Institute's Office

NATSEM

University of Canberra
ACT 2601, Australia
Phone: +61 2 6201 2780

About Us

OVERVIEW

The Institute for Governance and Policy Analysis (IGPA) at the University of Canberra was established in January 2014 to harness the research strengths of the ANZSOG Institute for Governance (ANZSIG), the National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling (NATSEM) and the Centre for Deliberative Democracy and Global Governance.

NATSEM

For over 20 years NATSEM has been, and remains, one of Australia’s leading economic and social policy research centres, and is regarded as one of the world’s foremost centres of excellence for microsimulation, economic modelling and policy evaluation.

NATSEM was initially established at the University of Canberra in 1993 to develop microsimulation models for the Federal Government and to undertake broad social and economic modelling and research. A major modelling task was to develop STINMOD – a model of the personal income taxation and government benefits system.

The Federal Government heavily relies upon this model through Treasury, Social Services and Employment to understand how policy impacts on families – both example families (cameos) and the broad impacts on different socioeconomic groups across the country.

NATSEM undertakes independent and impartial research, and aims to be a key contributor to social and economic policy debate and analysis Australia-wide and throughout the world using expert economic modelling of the highest quality, and supplying consultancy services to commercial, government and not-for-profit clients. Through its research NATSEM is an active contributor to social and economic policy debate and its research receives extensive media and public attention.

IGPA's main work is focused on public policy and governance issues in Australia and sees the annual budget as the key policy instrument of the government of the day.